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watershed citizen science

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2026 Backyard Citizen Science/Youth Programs-Volunteer Sign Up

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SAVE Club Groundwater Outings Sign Up!

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Volunteers make the WEN world go round. Join us in the stream or from the comfort of your own home working on Stream Team data.

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Our mission

WEN’s mission is to foster knowledge, awareness, and appreciation of watershed health through citizen science, youth and school engagement, and outreach to our communities.

Our Story

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We could not do what what we do without the support of donors and grantors. Your support helps WEN provide field experience through citizen science stream monitoring and education programs for students.

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Backyard Citizen Science
Anyone can be a citizen scientist
and make a difference in their community by observing the natural world around them; recording information over time; and sharing that information with others.

Join WEN in our new Backyard Citizen Science Program where we provide a guided training, packet with activities, and toolkit for you and your group to independently explore, observe, document, and learn about your backyard stream, creek, or pond.

Are you interested in trying out a kit? Learn more about this program and how to get involved at our Backyard Citizen Science Page.

Eagles Lodge on South Ave TONIGHT serving burritos that goes towards keeping citizen science rolling!

Good times in the creeks with Backcountry Stream Corps last week!

These awesome high schoolers are spending a couple weeks of their summer biking and hiking in the Rattlesnake and Grant Creek watersheds, doing habitat surveys looking at instream wood and beaver habitat, single point sampling looking at stream structure, velocity, aquatic insects, water chemistry, site maps and more! 💧

#watershededucation #watersheds #outdoors

WEN's team and our @parksidecreditunion partners at the Clark Fork River with the @missoulawritingcollaborative's Words with Wings poetry camp! Tons of fun.

#watershed #watereducation #rivers

🦋July 14th is National Be Nice to Bugs Day! Created in 2021, the day aims to raise awareness about the importance of bugs in our ecosystem and encourage people to learn to respect and acknowledge their existence, rather than swatting at them out of fear.

🕷️WEN loves Bugs! Not only are they a crucial food source for our fish, but they also help us by breaking down plant litter in the streambed, and can indicate the health of our waterways! Three of our favorites to find in Montana's waterways are caddisflies, mayflies, and stoneflies. Scroll through to see some fun bugs we've found on our Stream Team and Backyard Community Science outings.

🪲How to celebrate:
- Learn about bugs
- Spread awareness about bugs in your area and how to protect them
- Visit @missoulabutterflyhouse
- Create a bug-friendly garden – plant flowers and plants that attract and provide food for bugs.
- Grab a magnifying glass and go on a bug hunt in your backyard or a nearby park.
- Watch a bug documentary (The Secret Life of Bugs, The Tiny World of Insects)

#NationalBeNiceToBugsDay

It's that time of year again for WEN to join the Words with Wings program! Words with Wings is a creative writing camp for elementary and middle schoolers, run by the Missoula Writing Collaborative.

Starting TODAY we will be offering a special day each week for students to explore, observe, connect with nature, and reflect. This inspiring experience encourages their writing, fostering a deeper appreciation for the natural world.

If you're interested in volunteering with WEN in the future, visit our website (www.montanawatershed.org) and click on our Volunteer and Internship Application.

We had a great time at Grant Creek for our Stream Team training! Volunteers learned how to catch aquatic macroinvertebrates (bugs!), take cross section profiles, do pebble counts, and more.

If you'd like to join WEN's Stream Team, be on the look out for the release of our August training date. No prior experience necessary!

Come check us out at any of these June events! 💧💚

And don't forget, Back Country Stream Corps applications are due on June 16th. If you are a high school student who likes to ride bikes and wants to learn about stream research for two weeks (and wants to earn a stipend) - apply now!

All events and important dates can be found on the calendar on our website: https://www.montanawatershed.org/events

Join us this week at our final Matadors fundraiser! Support WEN by getting some tasty burritos at the Eagle's Lodge. What's not to love? 💧💚

Thank you to everyone who donated for Missoula Gives. Your gift will allow us to continue offering excellent programming to the community, stewarding the next generation of citizen scientists and sharing the wonderful world of watersheds to all.

#missoulagives

Today is the last day of Missoula Gives!
Your gift will be doubled thanks to the generosity of our partners, @parksidecreditunion

Contribute to the stewardship of our watersheds today. You sustain this work - through donations, volunteering, and sharing about WEN in the community.

Thank you for 29 great years... looking forward to many more! 💧

#missoulagives

IT'S HERE! 👏💚

This Missoula Gives, your generous donations will help everyone get involved in collecting meaningful data to make a difference in our watersheds and our communities.

Stewardship ethics are born from personal experiences out on our creeks and rivers. By maintaining and growing our Backyard Citizen Science programs, we ensure our community takes care of water places, today and into the future. Join us in growing community-wide stewardship values.

https://www.missoulagives.org/organizations/the-watershed-education-network

#missoulagives

Three more days until Missoula Gives!

Our dedicated volunteers show up consistently to collect data, teach, and inspire the next generation of watershed stewards.

Let's continue to support their work! ⭐

#missoulagives

Hey watershed-loving folks! Missoula Gives is coming up quick. We'd love your support so we can keep giving back to our community through our programs:

💧Backyard Citizen Science
💧School & Youth
💧Backcountry Stream Corps
💧Groundwater Monitoring
💧Recreation & American Dipper Surveys

In 2024, WEN volunteers contributed 896 hours to preserve our watersheds and cultivate the next generation of watershed stewards. We've been at it since 1996 - and it's all because of you 💚

#missoulagives

Join us for our final Winter Speaker Series next Tuesday at 5pm! 🌱

Hear from our awesome Stream Team Coordinator, Stephie Novak, and the WEN interns that make our world go 'round 🌎💚

RSVP today at www.MontanaWatershed.org!

Happy Earth Day folks! 💚🍃

Today we recognize the advocacy, stewardship, and dedication of our staff, volunteers, and community to keeping our watersheds healthy. 💧

Hey watershed ed friends!

Come check out our sponsored film, Aldo's Bug Extravaganza, at the International Wildlife Film Festival. 🦋

📆 April 20, 2025
📍 The Roxy Theater
⏲ 2:00pm

Visit WildlifeFilms.org for more info!

Save the Date! 🐟💧

Our friends at Westslope Chapter Trout Unlimited are having their annual banquet and auction on May 16th. Information on ticket purchases, venue, and program schedule will be released soon!

WEN volunteers, staff, and board members: we need YOU to help us support this awesome event! 🍃

Back Country Stream Corps applications are now OPEN!

PRIORITY APPLICATION DEADLINE: Sunday, May 18th by midnight

Who is it for? 💧
High school age youth who are interested in working outdoors to become part of a 5-6 member crew this summer, in the middle of July 2025.

What would members be doing?💧
Biking and hiking in the Rattlesnake and Grant Creek watersheds, doing habitat surveys looking at instream wood and beaver habitat, single point sampling looking at stream structure, velocity, aquatic insects, water chemistry, site maps and more!

Members will receive a $200 stipend at the end of the two-week program, and daily lunch will be donated by local businesses in Missoula.

Want to apply? Fill out the online Application Form at www.MontanaWatershed.org. Select applicants will be interviewed before the final crew is decided.

Come by the Eagles Lodge for Matadors Burrito Night this Thursday for some tasty food that benefits your local watersheds!

Our board members and volunteers work these events, so stop by to support them too 😉

Join us for the rest of our Winter Speaker Series! 🌱💧

Come see some excellent WEN volunteers and staff share their work. RSVP now at www.MontanaWatershed.org!

Recordings will be posted on our website after the event, and we will be hosting a live stream, so there are many ways to tune in ⭐️

Happy #InternationalWatershedDay ! Today is dedicated to the importance of freshwater and advocating for its sustainable management. 💧

Did you know?
🌍 Our Stream Team is currently monitoring Rattlesnake Creek to help establish baseline data, with goals to monitor additional streams throughout the Clark Fork Watershed.

🌍 WEN will provide free guided training and take home kits to direct experiences of observing, measuring, and recording changes to local water resources and foster the next generation of watershed stewards.

We love our work, and are so happy to celebrate this awesome day with all you other watershed lovers out there ❤

Closing out a busy citizen science year...thank you to our supporters, partners, and volunteers!

Today is #GivingTuesday!! Go to www.montanawatershed.org to support your watershed this giving season!
Again a BIG thank you to Windermere Real Estate Missoula ( @wremissoula ) for matching the first $1600 donated!

What a day for Stream Team on Rattlesnake Creek- Timberlane trailhead:)

Stream Team Sundays- always a good time!

Get yer waders on...
*Stream Team enjoyed a field session this weekon Rattlesnake Creek with our friends and visitors

In early July Montana experienced a heat wave that shut down many rivers to fishing, so that our many fish species could be relieved of some stress. At one point over 20 rivers and creeks were closed with Hoot Owl restrictions. These restrictions close the river from 2pm to midnight, when the water is warmest and fish are most stressed.

As of 8/14, only 10 stretches of river remain closed. The upper section of the Clark Fork from the mouth of Rock creek to the mouth of Warm Springs creek. It has been restricted for over a month now.

Starting today, the Bitterroot river from its mouth to the Veterans Bridge fishing access site just north of Hamilton is closed.

Across the state the Beaverhead, Big Hole, Jefferson Madison, Sun, Smith, Ruby rivers and Silver Bow creek remain under partial or full closures due to temperatures.

As we continue to experience lower flows throughout the end of summer, with continued high temps, be careful where you are fishing. Just because there is not a closure doesn’t mean you should fish. Bring a small thermometer with you and check gauge stream temps. Typically if the stream is over 66 degrees fahrenheit, then the fish are more prone to high stress.

While fires around Missoula seem to be calming down, there is still plenty of time in the season for continued fire activity. Montana currently has 63 active fires according to Montana Fire info. With over 1,000 fires recorded this year, over 100,000 acres burned, and a landscape that continues to dry, the years season certainly isn’t over.

Today we are going to highlight a natural firefighting tool: beavers. Beavers are one of the forests greatest engineers. Damming streams not only conserve water for late season flows, create fish habitat, spread water farther across the floodplain, and create habitat for riparian plants, they also help create natural firebreaks.

Through the process of damming, beavers create areas that are thoroughly inundated with water. Spreading water across floodplains and into the ground makes it harder for a fire to jump across the drainage, and thus slow or stop the fire from spreading. Additionally because of groundwater recharge, they create wetter conditions across the area, resulting in less dry dead material that can burn.
These riparian refuges can also act as a safe space for animals aiming to escape the blaze. Fires can move fast, over 10 miles an hour sometimes, and this can be hard for animals to cope with. Beaver streams and wetlands can act as temporary havens for these animals.

While beavers were once hunted extensively and harshly, they are now being welcomed to the landscape because of their benefits. Not only to wildfires but for general forest health as well.

Check out Emily Fairfaxes website to learn more! We researched today's post from this article. It is available on the Water Wonderings link in our linktree.

Much of WENs work happens in Missoula's Rattlesnake Creek, both famed and loved for its ample recreation, and it's hard fought restoration efforts. We love being involved in continued efforts to track the changes of this creek. But it's also important to reflect on our relationship with the creek.

During Backcountry Stream Corps, we asked our youth team to collectively describe the ways they had known and experienced Rattlesnake Creek, both before and during BCSC. Here is what they wrote.

I know the Rattlesnake by
How cold and clear it is
How much it has changed in recent years
How deep it is an by its unique history
By the people who depend on it for recreation, water, and much more
By falling in the creek
By exploring new places
By the beautiful rocks
By the dense vegetation
By the inspiring restoration projects
By its size and speed

Next time you visit the creek, think about how you know it, and what it means to you!

We asked some of our awesome Backcountry Stream Corps members what their favorite part of BCSC is, and got some awesome responses!

We love having Missoulas youth active in monitoring and conserving our watershed!

Congrats to our awesome Backcountry Stream Corps 2024 crew on a fantastic two weeks doing amazing work in the field.

The team finished up today with some monstrous cross sections of the former Rattlesnake Dam site, and celebrated with some delicous pizza. They worked through some hot weather and even after Missoulas major wind event.

Look out for our highlights and favorite moments next week!

Backcountry Stream Corps Week Two!!! This week our BCSC team has been in Rattlesnake creek this week getting critical data from our streams!

Between woody debris surveys, huge cross sections, and stream team work, this fantastic crew has had their work cut out for them. Yesterday they accessed one of our harder to reach sites above the old Rattlesnake dam, and one right off the main Rattlesnake trail.

This cool crew completed the cross sections, stream chemistry, velocity, macroinvertebrate counts, and pebble counts for these two locations. They focused in and did some super great work on a particularly hot day.

Even more rewarding was the swim in the creek at the end of the day!

We’ll post a recap to BCSC in the coming days!

What a great first week of Backcountry Stream Corps 2024!

We had an awesome first week to one of our favorite yearly programs with some great adventures and data collection. This week has been spent at Grant Creek, with several days of large woody debris surveys and some Stream Team data collection.

One cool section the Stream Corps visited was under the section of Interstate 90 that goes over Grant Creek. This section often requires the use of headlamps so that our awesome Citizen Scientists can see.

Besides being great experience for our youth, Backcountry Stream Corps also allows us to get a few extra Stream Team sites in for the year, and do even more essential Citizen Science. These awesome youth are doing the same level of Citizen Science as the pros, and we are excited to see them back in action next week!

Follow us next week for more updates on BCSC 2024, and some in the field coverage!

Last week WEN posted on Hoot Owl regulations and the current restrictions in place across western Montana. As Missoula continues to see temperatures into the 100s this week Hoot Owl regulations have continued to hold and expanded in many places.

Hoot Owl regulations are the closure of fishing between the hours of 2pm and midnight, when the water is warmest and the fish are the most stressed.

On the Clark Fork Hoot owl restrictions are present from the mouth of the Flathead river near Paradise all the way to the mouth of Warm Springs creek near Anaconda.

The Blackfoot is closed from in confluence with the Clark Fork in Bonner to the Cedar Meadow fishing access site near Ovando.

The Bitterroot is closed from its confluence in Missoula all the way to the confluence of the West and East forks of the Bitterroot near Connor.

These restrictions were put in place last Friday and will likely continue until the temperatures start to drop. Hoot Owl restrictions are also currently in place on the Smith, Sun, Beaverhead, Madison, Jefferson, Gallatin, and Big Hole rivers.

At WEN we love outdoor education! This week and next week we are doing afternoon programs with the Words with Wings program through the Missoula Writing Collaborative.

Yesterday we met near Jacobs island to do some macroinvertebrate sampling with a group of 3rd-8th graders. They were energized by all of the hatches we are seeing on the river right now. In particular interest was the numerous stone fly molts left on the rocks in the area. Some of the students thought they were neat, and some were rather alarmed, but curious nonetheless.

The students used kicknets to gather the various macroinvertebrates in the shallow current just off the beach and then gathered them in small tubs to ID and observe them. One studnet caught a live stonefly and after much observation we found that it was shedding its exoskeleton. Many of the students watched in fascination as it wriggled around, trying to free itself from its old body.

The students were also very excited to catch several crawdads hiding in a slow moving section of water. Their nimbleness in catching the clawed crustaceans was quite impressive.

It's always a delight to see bright young minds like these out enjoying and getting excited about our local water bodies, especially on hot weeks like this one.

Have you seen the weather report? Missoula is expected to see temperatures into the mid to high 90s this week amid a midsummer heat wave. Temps may subside next week but this week we need to be watching out for ourselves, and our aquatic friends.

As our rivers and lakes heat up, the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water drops. Fish need dissolved oxygen to breathe, and when the levels drop, they suffocate. Being cold blooded, they also mimic the water temperature they reside in. When temps get too high they can also be negatively affected by health factors that rely on a consistent temperature.

This is why Hoot Owl regulations are important for fish conservation. Hoot Owl regulations restrict fishing between 2pm and midnight, when the water is likely the hottest and fish are most stressed. They are implemented when a waterbody heats up to 73 degrees fahrenheit for three consecutive days. The restrictions are also sometimes implemented in advance when the water is forecasted to heat to those conditions after one or two days of over 73 degrees.

While our trout can handle these temperatures, they are stressed, and looking for cooler places to reside. Being fished can stress them more, and these regulations help relieve some of our fisheries stress.

Hoot Owl restrictions are currently in place on the Clark Fork from the mouth of Warm Springs Creek to the mouth of Rock Creek. They are also in place on the Big Hole, Beaverhead, and Sun Rivers as well as others. Information on current restrictions can be found on the Montana FWP website. As Montanas warm season starts to pick up, keep and eye on regulations.

Todays science news was researched from an article by Lisa Ballard, originally published in Colorado Outdoors, and reposted on the Collegiate Peaks Trout Unlimited Chapter website.

Check out our science news link in our linktree to check out the article!

Through this last winter's abnormally low snowpack, WEN has been keeping you updated on the Montana drought forecast. Last week Montana DNRC released their annual summer drought outlook for 2024.

Currently much of Western Montana is experiencing “moderate” drought conditions, with much of the high country experiencing “severe” drought conditions (see graphic). Compared to this time last year about 25% more of the state is in “moderate” drought and about 40% more of the state is “abnormally dry”. Only about 1% more of the state is in “severe” drought compared to the same time last year.

This kind of drought is troubling for Montana industries and trades that rely heavily on water to support our economy. Ranching, fishing, and river rafting greatly need sustainable and stable instream flows in order to maintain their current levels of business.

The report stated that even considering the low snowpack over the winter and low precipitation in April and June, “streamflows have held up surprisingly well.”

In addition to streamflows, the report added that all but four of the state's 17 water projects (reservoirs) were over their average capacity.

Some of the states key takeaways included
Some of the state is entering its fifth consecutive year of drought conditions
Wildfire exposure for much of the state remains normal
“Streamflows in western Montana are predominantly below to much below average at the end of June. Streamflows in eastern Montana are mostly average to above average at some locations”

Checkout the Montana drought outlook report on our science news link in our linktree!

Last Sunday we kicked off our Stream Team field season with an awesome training to make sure everyone stays safe during our outings to come.

Some of our awesome staff and volunteers joined us out near Highlander brewing on Grant Creek to review and learn all of the important procedures to make sure our data collection is neat and accurate. We are incredibly excited for this field season and what it will bring.

In just a few weeks we will start our Backcountry Stream Corps program, which will bring Missoula high schoolers into the field to do important citizen science data collection.

Be on the lookout for updates about Backcountry Stream Corps, Stream Team, and Groundwater monitoring!

If you’d like to join us for a Stream Team let us know! You can reach out at water@montanawatershed.org

out! Our citizen science kits offer you and your family the chance to do some awesome independent data collection that we use to keep tabs on the various riparian areas around Missoula.

In the kits there are thermometers, measuring tapes, timers, data sheets, and magnifying glasses so that you can do a variety of data collections. We love seeing the data that people pull out of the Missoula area, and hearing about the various fun experiences they have.

One of our favorite things to see is the site maps that kids draw during our school field trips, and from our families with Backyard Citizen Science kits.

These kits are a great way to facilitate children's interest in their local environments through data collection and qualitative measurements like site maps. This is a great way to enrich kids' learning over the summer!

If you would like to check out one of our kits, please contact us at watershedednet@gmail.com

Montana water quality standards are currently under review with the Department of Environmental Quality. These standards are incredibly important for people and the environments health throughout the state. They ensure proper treatement and use of our waters, including what can go into them.

The nutrient standards measure the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus in the water among other things. While both are incredibly important for plant prodcuitvity, too high of levels can be detrimental to ecological function. A prime example of this is the dead zones in the gulf of mexico, caused by mass nutrient runoff from farms in middle America.

The state guidelines consist of our different parts. Beneficial use, numerical standards, narrative standards, and nondegradation protections. These in combination effect and govern the levels of various substances in our waterways and provide strict regulations to make sure our waterways stay healthy.

The change to the Montana standards was mandated by the state legislature back in 2021, and the DEQ has been working since to try and revise it to meet the legislature's needs, as well as EPA guidelines.

This week the DEQ halted its plan to move forward with changing regulations because parties on many sides of the discussion are dissatisfied with the proposed changes. Some sides support reducing numerical restrictions because they are overly harsh, while others want those kept for their harshness. These changes will affect a multitude of Montana citizens, including farmers, ranchers, fisherman, the people who work with water like the wastewater treatment employees, and industries that rely on water to function.

If you’d like to learn more check out our science friday link here in our linktree!

Hey WEN friends! Are you interested in volunteering for the Stream Team this fall? We would love to have you for some of our super awesome things to collect some awesome citizen science data!

This Sunday we are holding a Stream Team training for anyone who wants to get out and join us this season. During training we will go over important safety information, as well as how to conduct some of our various data collection methods.

The Stream Team is incredibly important for our local data collection and monitoring the health of various waterways in our city. This data is used by government agencies to help make sure we are doing what we need to keep our streams healthy. Volunteers make it possible for us to do this amazing work at a larger scale, and we are deeply appreciative of the work they put in.

If you would like to join us for training this Sunday please email stephie@montanawatershed.org

This week one of our fantastic WEN staff members made the UM 25 under 25 list! Stephie Novak, our fantastic Stream Team coordinator was recognized for her work in citizen science and the states community emergency response team.

Stephie started her time at WEN as an intern during her time in the wildlife bio program, and has worked with WEN ever since.

We are incredibly proud of all of Stephies work, and are excited to see her recognized as an accomplished UM scholar!

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WEN's citizen science programs and youth watershed education programs are generously supported by the following foundations and community sponsors:

Welcome to watershed citizen science

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Volunteers make the WEN world go round. Join us in the stream or from the comfort of your own home working on Stream Team data.

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Welcome to
watershed citizen science